Fresno State Athletics
Dogs Begin Road Trek at SDSU Classic I
2/16/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 16, 2011
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State softball team will begin a 13-game road stretch during a trip to San Diego to face Missouri and Washington on Friday and UC Davis and San Diego on Saturday.
The live statistics of all games can be viewed on Gametracker at www.gobulldogs.com.
Fresno State Notes: SDSU Classic I 
Preview of Dogs' San Diego State Classic I Opponents
• No. 8/10 Missouri (Friday - 11:30 a.m. PT at SDSU Stadium)
The Missouri Tigers (Big 12 Conference) will begin the 2011 season on Friday morning against Fresno State. Missouri advanced to the 2010 Women's College World Series after going 52-13 last season. The Bulldogs have won all eight previous games against the Tigers.
• No. 10/11 Washington (Friday - 7 p.m. PT at USD Softball Complex)
The Washington Huskies (Pacific 10 Conference) are 5-0 on the season before starting play at the SDSU Classic I. Washington advanced to the 2010 Women's College World Series. The Huskies hold an 8-9 advantage in the all-time series record against the Bulldogs.
• UC Davis (Saturday - 11:30 a.m. PT at USD Softball Complex)
The UC Davis Aggies (Big West Conference) are 2-3 on the season before starting play at the SDSU Classic I. The Bulldogs have won all five previous games against the Aggies.
• San Diego (Saturday - 7 p.m. PT at USD Softball Complex)
The San Diego Toreros (Pacific Coast Softball Conference) will begin the season with the SDSU Classic I. The Bulldogs are 1-0 all-time against the Toreros (W, 8-0 in 2006).
Bulldogs Start Strong, Sweep Hornets on Opening Day
On an absolutely gorgeous February afternoon, Fresno State beat Sacramento State 5-4 in an 11-inning thrilling opener and capped the doubleheader sweep with a 7-4 victory. Michelle Moses delivered the first cycle in Bulldog softball's storied history and senior Haley Gilleland scored the winning run in game one. Junior Mackenzie Oakes picked up both victories in the circle and freshmen Demi Walker and Brooke Ortiz both earned two starts for the Dogs.
Moses Hits First Cycle, Named WAC Hitter of the Week
Junior Michelle Moses earned her third career WAC Hitter of the Week honor for her performance at the plate in a doubleheader sweep (5-4 in 11 inn. and 7-4) of Sacramento State. On the day, she hit 6 for 8 (.750), two home runs, a triple, a double, three singles and four RBI for 15 total bases, three runs scored and a 1.875 slugging percentage. She moved into a tie for third all-time with Kim Maher and Amanda Scott at 31 career home runs.
RECORD WATCH: Wright & Bulldogs Approaching Milestones
• Margie Wright is the all-time winningest Division I fastpitch head softball coach (1,388)
• Margie Wright is 12 wins shy of the 1,400 career win milestone entering the week
• Margie Wright is in her 26th season as Fresno State's head softball coach
• Fresno State is the nation's second-best all-time winningest NCAA Division I softball fastpitch program with a 1,409-471-1 (.749) record since 1982 --- ahead of UCLA, Florida State, Cal State Fullerton, La.-Lafayette, California, Texas A&M and Oklahoma.
• Fresno State enters its 34th year of competition with an overall program record 1,493-528-1 (.738) since 1978 - just seven wins away from the program's 1,500th all-time victory.
• Fresno State is the nation's only program to qualify for every NCAA Tournament (29)
• Michelle Moses is tied for third all-time with Kim Maher & Amanda Scott (31 home runs)
• Haley Gilleland is Fresno State's all-time stolen base leader (62)
• Mackenzie Oakes is one of eight Bulldogs to throw a perfect game
Bulldogs to Face Ranked Opponents All Season Long
In 2011, the Dogs will face three schools that competed in the 2010 Women's College Series, including a neutral site game with No. 7/9 Missouri, two neutral site games against 2009 national champion and No. 10/11 Washington and three WAC home games versus No. 8/13 Hawai'i (April 1 and 2). The Bulldogs also host longtime rival No. 12/12 California on March 13 at 2 p.m. in the finale of the Bayer CropScience Classic at Bulldog Diamond. In total, the Dogs are slated to play nine schools who were ranked in both preseason Top 25 polls and three other schools who received at least one vote in either of the polls.
Dogs Earn Votes in Both National Polls
Fresno State earned votes in both the USA Today/NFCA Division I (five votes/34th) and ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate (three votes/36th) polls this week.
Fresno State Holds Record for 29 NCAA Tournament Appearances
Fresno State is the nation's only program to have qualified for all 29 NCAA Tournaments in the Division I sport's history. The Bulldogs have appeared in 12 of the 29 NCAA Women's College World Series and secured the school's first Division I national championship in any sport in 1998, have been a national runner-up four times (1990, `89, `88 and `82), finished third three times (1997, `92 and `91) and tied for fifth four times (1999, `94, `87 and `84).
Dogs to Host 2011 Bayer CropScience Classic March 10-13
Fresno State will host the 2011 Bayer CropScience Classic from March 10-13, 2011 while welcoming Bradley, California, Drake, Idaho State and Troy to campus for the annual non-conference tournament at Bulldog Diamond.
Fresno State Picked to Finish Second, Three Dogs Named All-WAC
In the annual Western Athletic Conference coaches preseason poll, Fresno State was picked to finish second and three Bulldogs earned selections to the preseason All-WAC team. Senior shortstop Haley Gilleland, junior pitcher/first baseman Michelle Moses and senior catcher Caitlin Stiglich were Fresno State's representatives on the preseason All-WAC team. Hawai'i, the defending WAC champion who advanced to the 2010 Women's College World Series, was tabbed as the preseason conference favorite.
Bulldogs to Host 2011 WAC Softball Tournament May 11-14
Fresno State will serve as the hosts for the 2011 Western Athletic Conference Softball Tournament from May 11-14. The top six schools qualify for the double-elimination tournament with the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament awarded to the winner. The Bulldogs have won three WAC Tournament titles (2009, `07 and 1999) and 10 of the past 15 regular season WAC championships. Ticket information will be announced later this year.
Season Tickets Available Online and at the Bulldog Ticket Office
Softball season tickets are available for as low as $39 for youth/senior in general admission areas, $65 for adult general admission, $78 for upper reserved seating and $130 for lower box seating. This represents an affordable price reduction and gives Bulldog fans significant savings when compared to the single game ticket price. Fans can purchase tickets by logging on to www.gobulldogs.com, calling 559-278-DOGS or by visiting the Bulldog Ticket Office.
"We Are Your Team!" --- Fresno State takes to the road for the next month. The Bulldogs will start non-conference tournament action on Friday in San Diego against a pair of teams that appeared the 2010 College World Series (No. 8/10 Missouri and No. 10/11 Washington). Fresno State returns to Bulldog Diamond on March 10 when the Dogs host the 2011 Bayer CropScience Classic.
